Neogene geohistory analysis of Santa Maria Basin, California, and its relationship to transfer of Central California to the Pacific Plate. Diatom biochronology of the Sisquoc Formation in the Santa Maria Basin, California, and its paleoceanographic and tectonic implications

The central and southern Coast Ranges of California coincide with the broad Pacific-North American plate boundary. The ranges formed during the transform regime, but show little direct mechanical relation to strike-slip faulting. After late Miocene deformation, two recent generations of range building occurred: (1) folding and thrusting, beginning ca. 3.5 Ma and increasing at 0.4 Ma, and (2) subsequent late Quaternary uplift of the ranges. The ranges rose synchronously along the central California margin and are still rising; their long axes are quasiparallel to the plate boundary and strike-slip faults. The upper crustal internal and marginal structures of the ranges are contractional, dominated by folds and thrusts resulting from the convergent component of plate motion. Newly constructed transects using seismic reflection and refraction, plus gravity and magnetic studies, reveal lower crustal basement(s) at depths of 10-22 km. The upper surface of the basement and Moho show no effect of the folding and thrusting observed in the upper crust. We conclude that horizontal shortening is accommodated at depth by slip on subhorizontal detachments, and by ductile shear and thickening. The ranges are marked by high heat flow; weak rocks of the Franciscan subduction complex; high fluid pressure; bounding high-angle reverse, strike-slip, or thrust faults; and uplift at a rate of 1 mm/yr beginning about 0.40 Ma. Transverse compression manifested in folding within the Coast Ranges is ascribed in large part to the well-established change in plate motions at about 3.5 Ma.

show abstract

OVERVIEW: Late Cenozoic tectonics of the central and southern Coast Ranges of California

Page

Coleman

Thompson

1998

Geological Society of America Bulletin

140

130

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.

Contact Info

customersupport@researchsolutions.com

10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614

Henderson, NV 89052, USA

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Blog Terms and Conditions API Terms Privacy Policy Contact Cookie Preferences Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Made with 💙 for researchers

Part of the Research Solutions Family.

Neogene geohistory analysis of Santa Maria Basin, California, and its relationship to transfer of Central California to the Pacific Plate. Diatom biochronology of the Sisquoc Formation in the Santa Maria Basin, California, and its paleoceanographic and tectonic implications

Cited by 1 publication

References 19 publications

OVERVIEW: Late Cenozoic tectonics of the central and southern Coast Ranges of California

OVERVIEW: Late Cenozoic tectonics of the central and southern Coast Ranges of California

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About